The greatest act of worship

In a video, a Palestinian kid (I think) was asked a few questions about Islam.  Questions like who is your God, what is our Book...which we've heard before.   But then, this question, 'what is the greatest act of worship?'  "Tawheed", the kid says.  What is the greatest sin?  "Shirk", replied the kid. 

I reflected on our learning about God and Islam in this region of the world.  Those were of course mentioned before, but more like in passing.   Mentioned but not emphasized.   This is sad, and this could be one of the reasons why more of our children are easily influenced by others. 

I asked a Muslim friend from around the region once - what she would say if someone asks her - what  Islam is about in one sentence.  After a pause she said, "that we need to pray 5 times a day and dress modestly".

I think there is a dire need to emphasize that first and foremost - Islam is about believing in ONE power, ONE God and rejecting any association of power to God's power alone. 

Shirk, is the greatest sin, as mentioned in the Quran - but we didn't learn much about shirk in madrasahs.  

Whenever we believe that there is a person or a thing - that we can depend on and ask to, to change our fate or save our life - that is shirk.  People and things are agents of cause and effect.  The power to allow anything to happen is God's alone.  This thought and understanding is not prevalent among the Muslim masses.  

May we always be in the constant awareness and act of Tawheed and may we be saved from practising any form of shirk.  Aamiin.